A West Somerset pensioner who ill-treated three young children escaped prison after a judge said he was "ignorant" because he knew no better.

The 67-year-old man pleaded guilty to assault and ill-treatment or neglect of a child after neighbours raised concerns with Social Services about the children's treatment and welfare, Taunton Crown Court was told.

Caroline Bolt, prosecuting, said there were complaints of abusive and threatening language and the sound of smacks.

The house was in a very dirty state with large amounts of dog faeces in the garden where the children were left to play.

The children, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were reportedly outside in cold weather while unsuitably dressed – the youngest in a nappy and the eldest without a coat.

The eldest child told police the pensioner had hit all three of them and they were smacked with a spatula when they were naughty and noisy.

Doctors found bruises and marks on their bodies "which would be difficult to explain as accidental", she added.

Patrick Mason, defending, said the defendant's wife had been ill and he had made "a horrible mess" of looking after the children. They had now been taken away and were the subject of potential adoption proceedings.

"They're being properly looked after and their long-term welfare is in the hands of the court," he added.

The crown court was told the pensioner, who the Free Press has decided not to name in order to protect the identity of the children, was very sorry and had health problems.

Mr Mason said his client had been badly depressed, which could be the onset of Alzheimer's disease, and was "very far from being fit enough to go to prison".

Sentencing him to nine months, suspended for two years, with a requirement not to have unsupervised contact with children, Judge David Ticehurst said the pensioner's own background and upbringing had not given him the resources to care for children.

The man was also ordered to pay £535 prosecution costs.